In this issue

The
spring 2018 issue of the Department of Communication alumni newsletter includes
stories about the department’s new second undergraduate major program and the department’s
participation in events about the ever-changing communication industry.

The
department’s new Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies is welcoming its first class of students. Story here.

Students excited about the department's new major in communication studies

By Margaret Stewart

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Communication
studies majors engage in a group learning engagements while in their Principles
of Communication Studies course (from left to right: Melissa Yesse, Sabrina Matthews,
Brittany Wagner and Kendall Gast).

The
Department of Communication’s second undergraduate major, the Bachelor of Arts
in Communication Studies, is attracting students who are interested in a comprehensive
knowledge base about human communication across a variety of contexts and
industries to foster their development into versatile communication
professionals and leaders.

Students
who choose to major in communication studies have the opportunity to discover
more about the human communication process in personal and professional
relationships, and utilize their newly discovered knowledge and skills to
pursue career roles in corporate training, corporate communication, sales, nonprofit
leadership, talent recruiting, health communication, policy and government and
social media. About 30 students declared as communication studies majors in the
first semester of its existence.

“After UNF introduced
its new communication studies major, I was instantly intrigued,” said Melissa Yesse, a
junior and communication studies major. “The thought of studying how individuals connect and communicate
seemed to fit perfectly into my academic goals. There are endless job
opportunities with a communications degree, and I am extremely excited to see
what the future holds."

Dr.
Tina Holland, who was in charge of the faculty committee that developed the new
major, said, “This is something I have been looking forward to for 15 years. I
am so thrilled to see our department being able to offer this major. I am sure
we will see students who are looking for the tremendous flexibility this
program offers.”

The
new major in communication studies joins the department’s existing Bachelor of
Science in Communication, which focuses on public relations, advertising,
multimedia journalism and production, and the recently introduced Master of
Science in Communication Management. In the Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Studies, students are required to take COM 3003-Principles of Communication
Studies, COM 3332-Mediated Communication, COM 3042-Interpersonal Communication,
COM 3120-Organizational Communication,
COM
3752-Listening, and COM
4958-Communication Studies Capstone. Other courses include 4301-Communication
Theory and Research Methods, COM 4561-Strategic Social Media, COM 4044-Lying
and Deception, COM 4373-Consequences of Cyberculture, COM 3346-Interviewing:
Theories & Methods, COM 4430-International Communication, COM 3440-Small
Group Communication, and COM 4022-Theory & Research Methods in Health
Communication. The new major also has a foreign language requirement.

Communication
Studies majors Melissa Yesse (left) and David Wisehart (center), collaborate with multimedia
journalism and production student Isaiah Jenkins (right) in their course Strategic
Social Media.

Dr.
Christa Arnold, who teaches courses in listening and lying and deception in the major, notes that “a degree in communication studies can apply to a variety
of career paths, and the degree joins an already wonderful and established
communication department.”

The
communication studies degree is rapidly growing in popularity across the
country as employers are aggressively seeking out graduates who can solve
problems, think critically, express ideas effectively, resolve conflict, appreciate
diversity, recruit talented personnel, and understand the nuances and best
practices of human communication in the workplace and in a global society. Students
participating in the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies are expected to
achieve the learning outcomes stated in the program’s Osprey Eight, which
include communicate effectively, conduct valid research, apply theory, think
critically, employ media, embrace diversity, practice ethically and engage
civically.

The supportive climate
and the genuine commitment among students, faculty and staff towards student
success in the program are among the greatest assets of the new major. According
to junior David Wisehart, “Five
weeks into four courses within the communications studies major I feel this was
the best academic choice I have made. The program focuses on my existing
skill deficits, while improving upon my strengths to pave the way for new
professional endeavors in the future.” Another communication studies student, Melissa Yesse, is
equally pleased. “All in all, what I love about the communications department
so far is the brilliant professors I get to learn from and work with,” she
said.

Traci
Mathies, who teaches interpersonal communication and speech courses for the
program, sees the students’ passion for the program. “The enthusiasm and energy
inside and outside the classroom is already contagious,” she said. “This
program will meet needs in the marketplace and will open many opportunities for
students.”

Media Week takes on fake news and other timely issues

The
UNF Department of Communication’s fifth annual Media Week event, which ran Oct. 23 - 27, 2017, once again helped students in advertising, public
relations, journalism and production engage with media professionals at panels
and over lunch. The panel "The Spin on Fake News," co-sponsored by The Florida Times-Union and held in its auditorium, especially sparked conversation. Speakers included Mary Kelli Palka, editor
of The Florida Times-Union; Frank Denton, editor at large at The Florida
Times-Union/Jacksonville.com; Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations; Katrina
Greco, corporate communications manager at FIS; and Mike Miller, retired
broadcaster and manager of business development for Jacksonville Transportation
Authority. They talked about fake news in terms of its history and current
notoriety. They also gave examples of how to spot and combat fake news. The
panel video can be seen on the Media Week 2017 website.

Tuan
Tu, Revlon's marketing director, speaks to advertising and public relations students during his keynote.

Another
well-attended session was the keynote address titled “The Importance of
Advertising and PR in Building Successful Global Brands.” The speaker, Tuan Tu,
is marketing director at Revlon and an award-winning business leader in the beauty
and personal care industry. Tu emphasized to students the importance of finding
a job for which they have a passion. He also shared anecdotes on how Revlon
builds its global brand.

Other
panels addressed global and domestic diversity issues, the value of a
communication-related master’s degree, and the benefits of the department’s
mentorship program.

The
department’s alumni mixer combined food, wine and a love of golf.

Alumni
participants included Toni Boudreaux, SJC Chamber of Commerce; Haleigh Dunning,
Bold Brands; Frances Hanold, Shepherd Agency; Mike Madden, Fanatics; Holly
Morse, V is for Victory; Stephanie Jarrett, JetBlue; Zach Sweat, Void Magazine;
and Ken Thomas, UNF. They took part in various panels, including the alumni
panel, and the alumni mixer. The alumni mixer took place off campus this year
at Top Golf.

Those
who attended the events discussed what they saw and heard using the
#UNFMediaWeek hashtag. A 20-minute summary of all the events can be seen on the
Media Week 2017 website.

Robert Rittenhouse wins Patterson Scholarship

The
First Coast News show Good Morning Jacksonville featured Rittenhouse’s efforts.

The
Patterson Scholarship, named after former communication department chair Oscar Patterson, has
especially high standards. Only those who maintain a 3.5 GPA, take at least 12
hours every semester, and demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply. The
current recipient, Robert Rittenhouse, is focusing on advertising and is
minoring in creative writing and community leadership. He is active in Awaken
Church and is a student leader in UNF’s THRIVE program. The THRIVE program
helps students with autism acclimate to college life. His goal is to get a
master’s degree and then work for a children’s nonprofit managing their
communication. He’s also an avid reader, and he says he especially enjoys
Gulliver’s Travels because of its “penchant for normalized absurdity.”

Electronic media alumni find love while working in advertising

Guy
Barnhart and Kayla Beckmann Barnhart are a team in their personal and
professional lives.

Before you ask, no, we were not
college sweethearts. In fact, we didn’t even attend UNF at the same time. Now
that that’s out of the way, here’s our story.

The story is different, depending on
which one of us you ask, but since I’m telling it, here’s my version. I met Guy
at the production studios of Digital Video Arts. He was an intern starting his
path back into college (second time is a charm), and I was an ambitious
fresh-out-of-college girl on a mission to create a TV show out of the same
content I was writing about in Void Magazine. Well, the show happened. And so
did we.

While I finished up my time at Void,
Guy finished up his degree, all while moving in with each other way too
quickly. Guy began an internship, then job, at advertising agency Burdette
Ketchum, while I went to competing agency Shepherd. Both of our first
assignments were to work on the biggest pitch of the year – one to land the
Jacksonville Jaguars as a client. We weren’t allowed to talk to each other
about it, and let’s just say things were a bit tense in our one-bedroom
apartment. Shortly after, Shepherd offered Guy the opportunity to come and work
alongside me, and against both our reason he took the job. Together we shared
the CSX account, among others, and were a dynamic duo. Guy’s attention to
detail and my deadline-driven Type-A personality made us the perfect yin and
yang.

After a little more than a year, we
both started to feel a bit stagnant and knew some changes were in our future.
Then the rest happened really fast. I left Shepherd to start my boutique
creative agency, Small Fox Media, in August 2014. Guy proposed in October the
next year. We planned a wedding. Then canceled it. Then eloped in Rome in April
2016.

Small Fox had an amazing first year,
taking home local and regional ADDY Awards for our work with Drug Free Duval.
Feeling confident in our trajectory, it was Guy’s turn to take a risk. He left
the agency to become the marketing manager at ICEMULE Coolers, a startup out of
St. Augustine. Being the wonderful husband that he is, he hired his wife to
make a few videos for them and handle their social media, thus continuing our
work together. This past year, Guy led ICEMULE through an entire rebrand that
has led to significantly increased awareness and sales, making it one of the
fastest growing outdoor brands.

I celebrated three years as a
business owner this past August and am excited to see Small Fox really hit our
stride in the social media sphere this year, working with national clients and
collaborating with like-minded agencies.

I guess this is where we tell you
what’s next. This March we’ll be heading west to Denver to keep doing exactly
what we’re doing here, but with a little different scenery. Why? Why not!

We both took something very different
from our time at UNF (for Guy: the tools to be confident in taking chances in
his professional career; and for me: the confidence to be the leader my
professors recognized in me early on). We’re honored to represent UNF and hope
that we can be as influential to students as the past alumni and professors
were to us.

The Department teams up with the Florida Scholastic Press Association

The Department of Communication played
host to the Florida
Scholastic Press Association’s fall workshop on Sept. 23, 2017. There were 17
presentations by 14 speakers from newspapers, TV stations and the
department’s faculty. Around 50 high school journalism students attended. The
event was an opportunity to showcase the department’s facilities and recruit
the next generation of communication students.

UNF participants included Dr. Paula
Horvath, who spoke about how to write engaging editorials, and Dr. John
Parmelee, who talked about how Twitter is changing the journalism industry. The
Department of Communication’s senior broadcast engineer, Ken Thomas, gave a
videography/photography work­shop involving cell phones and cov­ering topics
such as framing and composition, angles and perspectives, and focus.

Other speakers included Tia Mitchell, the
Statehouse Bureau Chief for The Florida Times-Union, who spoke about how to
cover decisions made by school administrators and advisory councils, school
boards and elected officials that affect school calendars, athletics, dress
codes, grad­uation requirements and prayer in schools.

Paige Kelton, an award-winning journalist
who recently moved from the anchor desk to the man­agement team at WJAX-TV and
WFOX-TV, participated in two timely sessions: “Reportage: Diversity, Distrust
& battling #FakeNews” and “Social Media: The Perks & Pitfalls.”

For
more than 70 years, the Florida Scholastic Press Association has trained and
supported scholastic journalists and their advisers. More information about the
workshop is on the FSPA website.

Join the Department of Communication's expanded mentorship program

The
department is looking for more alumni to join the communication mentorship
program, which gives current undergraduate and graduate students the
opportunity to connect with communication professionals. This is not your
typical mentorship program. The process takes place online. The department’s
students connect with mentors via email. Then, if need be, student mentees and
mentors can continue to email or select a communication method that works best.
Mentors assist students with academic advice, career guidance and life lessons.
Students are able to choose their mentor based on the professional’s background
and expertise.

About
50 communication professionals are already on the mentor list, and there is
always room for more.

To
join, visit the mentorship websiteand complete the
online form based on the instructions provided. It’s that simple.

Anyone
who wants to use social media more effectively on the job is invited to Social
Media Day Jacksonville 2018.

The event will be held
June 29 - 30 at the UNF Adam W. Herbert University Center. Speakers include top
social media influencers, such as Dennis Yu from BlitzMetrics, Rebekah Radice
from Post Planner, Derral Eves from VidSummit and other marketing experts.

Event sponsors include the
UNF Department of Communication, the American Marketing Association of Jacksonville,
the Advertising Federation Association of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Online
Marketing Meetup, Gil Media Co. and Savvy Outsourcing.

Early bird registration is $147, which includes the workshops, lunch and a reception. More
details are on the Social Media Day Jacksonville 2018 website. And there's also a preview video of the event.

Tech Tips

By Dr. Chunsik Lee

Associate Professor, Department of Communication

Introducing
the two important sections in Facebook’s official PR webpage

Newsroom.fb.com has long been a weekly check-up place for any social media manager or anyone
working in the emerging media industry. Two sections give you important
updates: Hard Questions and News Feed FYI. Since Facebook started
reckoning with the ethical issues raised by critiques, it has used Hard Questions as a PR page. It tackles tough issues like social media
addiction, hate speech, foreign intervention, misinformation spread on
Facebook, user’s mental well-being, and social media and democracy. In News
Feed FYI, you can find Facebook’s big and small News Feed algorithm changes,
their potential impact and their justifications. You will learn how to minimize
the potential negative impact from the most recent algorithm changes and the prioritization
of close friends’ content over organization and publishers’ Facebook Page
content.

Introducing
Android apps Datally and File Go

Datally is a long-overdue feature on Android to catch up to a built-in iPhone feature
that shows how much data is used by each app. Datally provides insights on what
apps consume your mobile/cellular data in real time and delivers daily and
weekly report as well. It also gets you personalized recommendations to save
more data. It tells you if you are near public Wi-Fi and helps you to connect.
Files Go helps users free up storage space on their smartphones by finding
unnecessary files. It works like CCleaner, the steady seller on PC. Files Go
also offers offline file transfer features between adjacent Android phones like
AirDrop features on iPhones.

Introducing Adobe Spark

Adobe,
the industry leader in the photo editor and video editor market, has finally
launched consumer products. It’s all free (with Adobe Spark watermark on your
artifacts) and provides an easy-to-use interface (a $9.99 monthly service is available to replace with your own
brand logo). In iOS, it also offers three separate apps: AdobeSpark Post, Page and Video. Adobe Spark Post provides easy-to-use photo
editing tools that are customized for social media publishing. Adobe Spark Page
offers step-by-step webpage design tools. It remains to be seen how Adobe will
do in the competitive webpage design tool market.

Faculty activity

Dr. Christa Arnold received the 1st
place Competitive Communication Scholarship Paper Award from the Florida
Communication Association for her paper “Listening Skills and the Medical
Encounter: Perceptions from Practicing Physicians.”

Dr.
Berrin Beasley presented “Evolution
of the Social Media Journalist: Integrating the Roles of Gatekeeper, Reporter,
and Copy Editor” at the American Journalism Historians
Association’s convention.

Dr. David Deeley won Best of Competition in the TV Sports Event Direction &
Production category of the 2018
Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts for his work on
the UNF vs. Jacksonville Men's
Basketball ASUN Quarterfinal Game.

Marcia
Ladendorff participated in a panel discussion on “Storytelling: How to Get People
to Read You” at PRSA Florida.

Dr.
Chunsik Lee and Dr. Junga Kim published “Testing a Cultural
Orientation Model of Electronic Word-of-Mouth Communication: A Comparative
Study of U.S. and Korean Social Media Users” in Asian Journal of Communication.

Dr.
John Parmelee, Dr. Nataliya Roman, Dr. Berrin Beasley and Dr. Stephynie
Perkins published “Gender and Generational Differences in Political Reporters’
Interactivity on Twitter” in Journalism Studies. They also published “Comparing
Interactivity on Twitter by Political Reporters at TV Networks, Online-Only
News Websites, and Newspapers” in Electronic News.

Get involved

There are
eight great ways to stay connected with the Department of
Communication:

1. Join the Department's Professional
Advisory Board. The board helps us make sure we are getting students prepared
for the current media environment. If you have risen to a position of
leadership at a news organization, PR firm, advertising agency or other media
outlet, please contact the department chair, John Parmelee.
Even if you don't want to be on the board, feel free to email the chair with
any advice on making the curriculum better.

2. Join the Department's alumni
association. This is a great chance to interact with fellow communication
alumni and current students. To join, please contact the department's alumni association, mention your interest in joining and please
include your name, contact information, year of graduation and
track. Also, all communication alumni are invited to be a part of the
conversation on Facebook. This is the “go-to” spot for UNF communication
alumni. The Facebook group includes information about alumni social events,
recently posted communication jobs, tech tips, departmental news and
pictures/video from departmental events such as Media Week. In addition,
communication faculty members have joined the group, so you can connect with
your old professors. Here’s how to join the alumni Facebook group: Search for
UNF Communication Alumni and ask to join.

3. Let faculty know how you're doing.
Below is a link that lists faculty and their email addresses. Faculty love to
hear what their former students are up to and are always happy to offer advice.

4. Participate in the Internship Fair.
Every spring, representatives from companies such as WJXT, The Florida
Times-Union, United Way and Mayo Clinic meet with communication students
to discuss upcoming internships and jobs. If you are a leader at a company that
is looking for interns to do advertising, public relations, journalism or
production, please contact professor Bobbi Doggett to
participate.

5. Be a guest speaker. Your expertise in
advertising, public relations, journalism or production could be a real benefit
to current students. We are always looking for such guest speakers to come to
communication classes. A good time to do this comes during the fall semester
when the department hosts Media Week, an opportunity for media professionals to
speak with students and faculty about the media landscape. Contact John Parmelee for
more information.

6. Contribute to Alumni Notes. This is
your chance to let faculty and fellow alumni know of any big career or personal
changes in your life. Also, consider contributing a 300- to 500-word piece on
which professors made the biggest impact on your career. Submissions will be
published in the alumni newsletter. Contact John Parmelee to
submit.

7. Donate to the Department. Even a small
gift can help us enhance our facilities, academics and recruiting of
top-quality students and faculty. To contribute, please click here.